turkey_sillyon

Turkey day is just three weeks away and for those of us who live in Rome and dream of preparing a proper American-style spread, it is not too early to begin stockpiling supplies. Unfortunately, there is no one-stop-shop like The Thanksgiving Shop in Paris, but with trips to Piazza Vittorio and Testaccio, you can gather most of what you need for a bountiful feast. Here are some tips:

Turkey. You should be able to order one from your neighborhood butcher. If he can’t accommodate your request, the stalls in the Piazza Vittorio and Testaccio markets can. A bonus is taking the big raw turkey home on the metro, which I think everyone should have the pleasure of doing at least once in a lifetime. It is not a bad idea to tell the butcher the dimensions of your oven when ordering. Many standard Italian ovens are not big enough to accommodate a 20lb turkey so to avoid having to dismember your bird in order to close the oven door, give him as much information as he needs to select the proper size for you.

Sweet Potatoes. These are labeled patate americane and you are most likely to find them at the Piazza Vittorio market or in the Caribbean food shops in the area. And I swear I saw them from a distance in Testaccio last week…Pick these up a few days in advance. I waited until the eleventh hour last year and had to scramble to find 5 sweet potatoes.

Cranberry Sauce. Castroni (several locations) and Selli International on via dello Statuto 28 both carry the canned stuff. For the real thing, you are probably going to have to smuggle them in from France or Great Britain.

Stuffing. Last year I made stuffing with bread from Pietro Roscioli in Piazza Vittorio. I got 3 types, cut them into cubes and toasted them. I added sausage that I got from the porchetta man in the Testaccio Market to the recipe and these high quality ingredients really made the dish.

Corn bread. Corn meal is sold in Selli, Castroni, and Elite supermarkets.

Apple sauce. Tart green apples from Trentino (widely available) will do the trick.

Squash. The African and Caribbean shops around Piazza Vittorio have a good selection of squash varieties.

Pumpkin Pie. Castroni carries canned pumpkin but if you are feeling very ambitious, cook down some zucca and make the real thing.

Categories: America, Food & Wine, Gastronomic Traditions